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Table b. Inspection I Service (continued) 
Checlt transmission and differential for 
external  lealts. 
Check  CV joint  boots  for damage  or leaks. 
Visually 
check fuel tank, fuel lines,  and 
connections for 
leaks. 
New  parts 
Tools Required  required 
Check condition, position,  and mounting 
ol 
exhaust system. Visually check and adjusl 
if  necessary. 
Check power steering system  for lealts. 
Check power steering 
fluid level and adjust 
if necessary. 
Check steering  racidbox  and tie  rods for 
tightness. Checit condition of  front axle 
joints,  steering 
linkage, and  steering  shaft 
joints. 
Check overall thickness  of front  and rear 
bralte pads using 
BMW special  tool. If 
replacement  is necessary: 
Examine brake disc surface. 
Clean brake  pad contact points in calipers 
Grease wheel centering  hubs. 
Checlt thickness  of parking brake linings 
only when  replacing  rear brake shoes. 
Checit operation  of pariting brake  and 
adjust  as necessary. 
Checlt front control arm bushings  for 
damage or  wear. 
Check brake system connections  and 
lines 
for  leaks, damage, and incorrect 
positioning  Warm 
engine 
(~ealer service Irepair , required  recommended lnformat~on 
Check parking  braite actuator. Adjust  if 
necessary 
Check ail tire  pressure (including spare) 
and  correct  if necessary. 
Checlt condition  of tires (outer tread 
surface),  tread wear pattern: in case  of 
uneven  wear, perform wheel alignment. 
inspect  entire  body according  to terms  of 
rust  oerforation  limited warrantv.  (Must be 
*: 
4: 
2 ~ perfdrmed at least  every two  years). I 
Read out on-board diagnostic (OBD 11) fault 
codes. 
Checkengine  coolant 
system1 heater hose 
connections  for 
leaks. 
Checit coolant level and antifreeze 
protection  level. Add  coolant  as necessary. 
* 100113010BD 
I 
170    

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--- - 
Maintenance 
Table b. Inspection I Service  (continued) 
I I  I I 
Warm engine  Dealer service 
required  recommended 
Check windshield 
washer fluid  level  and 
antifreeze protection. 
Add washer fluid  as necessary. 
Replace ventilation 
microfilter. (Note: 
reduce replacement intervals  in dusty 
operation conditions) 
Reset Service interval Indicator 
(Sil). 
Additional 
repair 
information 
Tools Required 
* 
eck  aim  of washer  jets and  adjust  if 
necessary. 
covers,  obvious damage or attachment o 
s or accessories. 
Road  test 
Check braking performance, steering, 
heating and air conditioner  operation. 
Check manual transmission  and clutch 
operation  or automatic transmission 
operation.  New 
parts 
required 
* 
Bodylelectrical 
121 
630 
630 
Checic battery state of  charge 
Check operation  of: 
headlights, 
parking iights, back-up lights. 
license plate lights, interior lights, 
glove box 
illumination, engine compartment light, 
trunk  light, turn signals, emergency 
flashers, stop iights. 
Check operation  of horn and headlight 
dimmer  switch 
:i:    

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1 Maintenance 
NOTE- 
Castrol supplies  the mineral  and synthetic  oil recommend- 
ed  by 
BMW 
BMW High  Performance synthetic  oil may  be used  in all 
E39 models, regardless  of year. 
The  use of engine oil  additives is not  recommended  when 
using BMW High 
Performance synthetic engine oil. 
* BMW  is constantly upgrading  recommendedmaintenance 
procedures  and requirements.  The information contained 
here is  as accurate as  possible at the time  ofpublication. If 
there is any doubt  about what procedures  apply to a spe- 
cific 
model or  model  year, or what  intervals should  be fol- 
lowed, remember  that  an authorized  BMW dealer  has the 
latest information  on factory-recommended  maintenance. 
CAUTIOIG 
In  the  case of cars  that accumulate  very low mileage per 
yea/; BMW recommends that  the  engine oil should  be 
changed  once 
a year at a  minimum, regardless  of whether 
mineral or  synthetic based oil  is used. 
In  the interest  of  engine longevity, use half 
tlie recom- 
mended  engine oil change  interval. 
Engine oil, checking level 
4 Engine oil  level  is checked with a dipstick (arrow) in  the 
engine  block (6-cylinder  oil dipstick shown, 
V-8 dipstick  is 
similar). 
- Check  oil  level  with car  on  level surface,  after engine  has 
been  stopped  for at least a  few minutes. 
- Check  level by pulling  out  dipstick and wiping  it clean 
Reinsert  it all  the  way  and withdraw  it again.    

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020-1 4 
Maintenance 
- When oil flow  has diminished to an occasional drip,  reinstall 
drain  plug with a  new metal  sealing  washer and torque  plug. 
Tightening torque  Engine oil  drain plug to  oil pan 
25 Nrn (1.8 ft-lb) 
6-cylinder  oil filter assembly 
r------ 1 
< Working  at oil filter  housing (1): 
Lubricate  and install  new oil filter  O-rings (3, 4). 
Install a new filter  cartridge (5). 
lnstall and tighten  housing  cover (2). 
6-cylinder  oil filter  assembly  shown, V-8 is similar. 
Tightening torque  Cover  to oil  filter  housing 
25 Nm (1.8 it-lb) 
- Refill  crankcase with  oil. Approximate oil capacity is  listed in 
Tabled.  Engine oil with  filter  change.  Use dipstick  to 
check  correct  oil level. 
- Start  engine and check  that oil pressure warning  light 
immediately goes  out. 
- Allow engine to run fora  few minutes  to circulate  new oil, then 
check for leaks  at drain  plug and oil  filter. Stop engine  and re- 
check oil  level 
The section  describes other routine maintenance done  in the 
engine compartment.  Information  on engine oil service is 
giv- 
enkar~ier inthis group. 
For these  procedures,  it is  not necessary for  the car to be 
raised  and supported  off the  ground. 
Accelerator and linkage 
The  accelerator and  linkage at the  throttle  housing  should be 
lubricated  periodically.  Use ageneral purposeoil  on the joints 
and  bearings  of the  linkage.  Use a multipurpose grease  on 
the  bearing  points of the  throttle plate. 
Air  filter, replacing 
The  specified replacement intervals forthe air filter are  based 
on normal  use. If the car  is operated primarily  in dusty 
conditions,  the air filter should  be serviced more frequently.    

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Maintenance 
< Release mass air flow sensor  clips (A). 
Release upper air filter housing clips (B). 
4 Lift air filter upper housing,  and  remove filter element. 
NOTE- 
V-8 engine  air filter assembly shown in illustration. 6-cylinder 
air  filter assembly  is similar  but located  at the  left front  of the 
engine compartment. 
- On  installation, install O-ring  for mass  air flow  sensor  into 
retaining clips in air filter upper  housing. 
- Replace air filter and upper  air filter housing,  and attach 
upper air filter housing clips. 
Cooling  system, checking 
Antifreeze  raises the boiling point and lowers  the freezing 
~oint of the coolant. BMW  recommends enaine  coolantthat is 
a 50 150 mixture of distilled  water and ethGene glycol-based 
antifreeze. 
Routine cooling  system maintenance consists  of maintaining 
the  coolant level and inspecting  hoses. Because the coolant's 
anticorrosion  and antifreeze additives gradually lose  their ef- 
fectiveness, replacement  of the  coolant  every three  years is 
recommended. 
CAUJION- 
Use only BMWapprovedphosphate-free antifreeze  when 
filing the cooling  system.  Use of antifreeze  containing 
phosphates  is harmful  to the  cooling  system. 
4 Float in radiator tank indicates  coolant level.  Inspect while 
coolant is cold. 
When upper mark  on float  is level with  top of filler  neck, 
coolant  is at  minimum allowable  level. 
When  lower mark  on float  is level  with top  of filler  neck, 
coolant is  at maximum  level. 
Hose connections should be tight and dry.  Coolant seepage 
nnection indicates either  that hose clamp is    

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020-1 8 
Maintenance 
V-8 engine drive belt diagram (NC belt not shown). 
NOTE- 
Two  types  of belt  tensioners are  used on the V-8 engines. 
The  tensioner shown  in this procedure  is for  cars  built up to 
8/97. The  later  style tensioner  is similar. 
4 V-8 engine  tensioner. 
Loosen 
fasteners(A) to  relieve  belt tension 
- Remove drive belt. 
4 When reinstalling belt,  check that it is correctly positioned on 
belt pulleys. 
With bolts 
(B and C) finger tight,  pretension adjuster  by 
turning  hex counterclocltwise 
(arrow) to  stop. 
Tighten mounting  bolts. 
NOTE- 
On 8/97 and later  tensioner,  turn hex on tensioner  plate to 
align  lowerplate  mounting bolt.    

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Maintenance 
continue to operate as designed. Extending  the replacement 
interval may  void the emission control warranty  coverage. 
See 
180 Exhaust System for  information  on replacing the 
oxygen sensors. 
Tightening  torque 
Oxvoen sensor  to exhaust 
manifold 50 Nrn (37 ft-lb) 
NOTE- 
A special  soclet for replacing  the oxygen sensor  is available 
from  most  automotive  parts stores.  The  soclet has 
a groove 
cut  down  one side  to allow  the sensor  to be  installed  without 
damaging the  wire harness. 
Power  steering fluid, checking level 
The power steering system  is permanently filled  and does  not 
have a  drain. Routinely adding  ATF is not required  unless the 
system  is leaking. 
4 To  check  power steering fluid  level in fluid reservoir: 
Park  car on  level ground  with engine off. 
Level  is correct 
if it is between MlN and MAX marks  on 
dipstick. 
If  level  is below 
MlN mark,  add fluid to reservoir  to bring 
level  up. 
* Hand-tighten reservoir  cap. 
Power steering  fluid 
Dexron 
1iiO ATF  or equivalent 
Spark  plugs 
E39 models through model  year 1998  were  equipped with 
spark plugs with  two electrodes. These  are gapped to 
0.7 mm 
(0.028  in) by the manufacturer  and are not adjustable. 
Starting with 1999 models,  long life spark plugs with 
3 or four 
electrodes were  used. These can  be retroactively fitted to 
earlier 
models. The recommended  spark plug replacement 
interval 
forthese is  100,000 miles.The electrode  gap in these 
spark plugs is not  adjustable. 
Spark plug applications 
M52  Bosch FBLDCR 
M52 TU, M54 Bosch FGR7DQP or NGK BKRBEQUP 
M62 to 7/97  Bosch F7LDCR or NGK BKR6EK 
M62 from  7/97  Bosch F9LDCR 
M62 TU  Bosch FGR7DQP or NGK BKRGEQUP    

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020-22 Maintenance 
1 
- Installation is reverse  of removal,  bearing in mind  the 
following: 
Lightly lubricate  new 
spark plug  threads  with 
copper-based  anti-seize compound. 
Thread plugs into  cylinder head by hand  to prevent 
cross-threading. 
. Be  sure  to reinstall and tighten  coil grounds. 
Tightening torque  Spark  plug 
to cylinder head 25 Nm (18 It-lb) 
Interior ventilation microfilter, replacing 
Two interior  ventilation microfilters  are used,  one on each 
side  of the engine  compartment  at the  fire wall. 
< To replace  the microfilter, unclip  the wire fastener  and 
remove  the cover. 
Lift out  the filter,  and replace. Left  side shown;  right is 
similar. 
Replace  cover and clip wire fastener  to retain  cover. 
Battery, checking, cleaning, and replacing 
The battery Is located  in the  right side  of the  luggage compart- 
ment. Simple  maintenance of the  battery  and its terminal 
connections  will ensure maximum starting  periormance, 
especially  in winter when colder temperatures reduce battery 
power. 
Battery  cables should be  tight. The terminals,  cable clamps 
and  battery case  should be free of  the white  deposits that 
indicate corrosion  and acid salts. Even a  thin layer  of dust 
containing  conductive  acid salts can cause  battery discharge.